Suggestions for an improved exploration process—lessons from the project: Evaluation of Norwegian Wildcat Wells (Article 4)

Abstract

This paper is based on the project: ‘Evaluation of Norwegian Wildcat Wells”. Here the main findings of articles 1–3 are summarised with the aim of making suggestions for an improved exploration process. The main suggestions are: u • Prospects should be evaluated in a petroleum system and play context. • Use areal and vertical segmentation of prospects to improve the understanding of uncertainties in hydrocarbon volumes; make multiple volume calculations for a prospect prior to drilling. • If the well is dry, use decision trees to decide on reason for dryness. • Understand the relation between hydrocarbon volumes and prospect probabilities. • Ensure consistency in the evaluation of prospects. • Aim to have a seamless chain of data sources when reporting at the different stages in evaluation of a prospect. • Evaluate prospects according to the maturity of their play. • Continuously update the Evaluation of Norwegian Wildcat Wells database.